The 2008 presidential field at-a-glance

[jon1856]

Democrats Registering In Record Numbers
1 Million New Voters For Last 7 Primaries

RALEIGH, N.C. -- They lined up shoulder to shoulder inside the gray high-rise downtown, their politics as diverse as their backgrounds. An ex-felon who needs health insurance, followed by a high school student seeking empowerment, followed by a Marine Corps veteran who wants to prevent his country from crumbling.
Like hundreds of others, their quests led them to the Wake County voter services office this month to register as Democrats for the first time. The line of newcomers that snaked across the checkered tile floor was emblematic of those that have formed across the country this year: black voters, young voters, lifelong Republicans switching parties -- all registering in record numbers, and all aligning as Democrats.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...T2008042702368

[jon1856]

Eyes on Blue-Collar Voters, Obama Shifts Style
ANDERSON, Ind. — Senator Barack Obama is making subtle changes to his campaign style and message in an effort to strengthen his appeal to blue-collar voters and to avoid a defeat in Indiana that aides fear could give Democratic Party leaders further pause about his viability in a general election.
On Sunday, Mr. Obama went to a Methodist church in Indianapolis, the kind of event rarely on his public schedule. He suited up for a game of basketball on Friday night before television cameras. And the big, energy-filled stadium rallies that were the bread and butter for most of his campaign have once again given way to smaller town-hall-style meetings, where he is seen talking with people and not at them.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/us...tuK7e7joyWpnmg

[jon1856]

Obama strongly denounces former pastor

Candidate calls Wright's recent comments 'wrong and destructive'

HICKORY, N.C. - Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday he was outraged by the latest assertion by his former pastor that criticism of his fiery sermons is an attack on the black church.
The presidential candidate is seeking to tamp down the growing fury over Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his incendiary remarks that threaten to undermine his campaign.
"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday," Obama told reporters at a news conference.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24371827/

[nittanyalum]

Not sure how I missed this the other day, but I just saw this story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24369144/

I'm sure there's some angling for the VP slot in this, but it's still a good "get" for her campaign.

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by jon1856

Democrats Registering In Record Numbers
1 Million New Voters For Last 7 Primaries

RALEIGH, N.C. -- They lined up shoulder to shoulder inside the gray high-rise downtown, their politics as diverse as their backgrounds. An ex-felon who needs health insurance, followed by a high school student seeking empowerment, followed by a Marine Corps veteran who wants to prevent his country from crumbling.
Like hundreds of others, their quests led them to the Wake County voter services office this month to register as Democrats for the first time. The line of newcomers that snaked across the checkered tile floor was emblematic of those that have formed across the country this year: black voters, young voters, lifelong Republicans switching parties -- all registering in record numbers, and all aligning as Democrats.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...T2008042702368

Anyone else catch that? People with felony convictions can't vote.

I dunno. It amused me that the author didn't realize that.

Edit: Just kidding. Turns out that's only in three states.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

Anyone else catch that? People with felony convictions can't vote.

I dunno. It amused me that the author didn't realize that.

Edit: Just kidding. Turns out that's only in three states.

Like you, until recently I didn't think that felons could vote in a lot of places. I saw something recently that said many states let them vote again once all aspects of the sentence have been served, so if you served 10 years in prison and were on probation for 10 more, you could vote at the end of those 20 once you had satisfied all the requirements of the sentence.

It seems about right to me although the idea of felons as a specific voting block would worry me a bit. A group unified on a shared history of committing felonies isn't particularly who want my politicians more responsive to because many politicians seem to be so naturally gifted in this area on their own.

[Tom Earp]

I know I should care and I will vote, but what a really crappy choice to opt for!

They are all scarry as hell! We think it is bad now?

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Like you, until recently I didn't think that felons could vote in a lot of places. I saw something recently that said many states let them vote again once all aspects of the sentence have been served, so if you served 10 years in prison and were on probation for 10 more, you could vote at the end of those 20 once you had satisfied all the requirements of the sentence.

It seems about right to me although the idea of felons as a specific voting block would worry me a bit. A group unified on a shared history of committing felonies isn't particularly who want my politicians more responsive to because many politicians seem to be so naturally gifted in this area on their own.

Read the story-just a few lines down:
"Robertson always thought the felony charge disqualified him from voting, until his girlfriend picked up a registration form last month at a hair salon and read the fine print (ex-felons may vote in North Carolina if they complete all terms of their sentence, such as probation or parole). She brought it home to the two-bedroom apartment they share with their four children and told him to fill it out."

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by jon1856

Read the story-just a few lines down:
"Robertson always thought the felony charge disqualified him from voting, until his girlfriend picked up a registration form last month at a hair salon and read the fine print (ex-felons may vote in North Carolina if they complete all terms of their sentence, such as probation or parole). She brought it home to the two-bedroom apartment they share with their four children and told him to fill it out."

Yep that might be where I read it.

Not to totally start a culture war, but why the heck would this guy have four kids with a woman and live with her but not be married to her?

I almost understand it when people decide not to get married but have a kid together and have somewhat separate lives, but four kids and living together? What exactly are you holding out for there?

[tld221]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Yep that might be where I read it.

Not to totally start a culture war, but why the heck would this guy have four kids with a woman and live with her but not be married to her?

I almost understand it when people decide not to get married but have a kid together and have somewhat separate lives, but four kids and living together? What exactly are you holding out for there?

for some, marriage is just a formality. maybe its better to wait til they know they want/need to be married, than to do it just because they have kids and then divorce later. then it gets messy with custody and child support and what not.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by tld221

for some, marriage is just a formality. maybe its better to wait til they know they want/need to be married, than to do it just because they have kids and then divorce later. then it gets messy with custody and child support and what not.

But they've already had the kids. There's nothing that marriage and divorce would really complicate in terms of custody and child support if they split. Avoiding marrying the mother or father of your child doesn't really decrease your legal obligation for child support.

I guess it's a reflection of the culture in which I was raised, but I just don't understand what it is you are holding out for in a relationship to find it marriage worthy if you are willing to live with and have multiple kids with the same person, particularly if the relationship goes on for a long time. I guess marriage is just a formality, although it does actually have some legal benefits, but it seems like it'd be a desirable one.

Nittanyalum, I see your point about perhaps she's the reluctant one, but again, having four kids with him doesn't really seem like she's playing it safe.

Back to our regularly scheduled political commentary. . .